Jajaguwar
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Brooklyn’s Cut Worms (Max Clarke) has just dropped a lovely little Christmas song, “The Bells of Christmas Eve.” The song has a warm, timeless feel, and some seriously dark lyrical content. I mean… it starts off quite beautifully, with swaying pianos and guitars under Max’s delicate voice.
Fields full of snow, miles still to go
Moon shining blue in all the white
Winds are picking up, ice cold and rough
Lost in the year’s longest night
However, the song quickly takes a turn…
Silence in the pines whisper down the line
The sky all ripped starless and black
Here we shall remain, still waiting on a train
That ain’t ever coming backSmoke is on the wind where the rockets once had been
Cries through the ages in grief
Peace will surely come, you’ll say it can’t be done
Just don’t say it to me
Just don’t say it to me
“The sky all ripped starless and black” – that is pretty damn ominous. But the last bit, “Peace will surely come, you’ll say it can’t be done / Just don’t say it to me,” seems rather hopeful. Though we return to the haunting chorus…
Still is the night
Bells of Christmas Eve
Voices come back to life
Are they all talking to me?
I could see this on a somewhat politically charged mix – you know, one that might throw in a jab or two at the bloodthirsty leaders who reside around the world (and at home). Cuz it’s Christmas, you know…
Bottom Line: A beautiful, complicated song for anxious, complicated times.
